and leading them seaward; "but don't venture alone, the ground might
crumble under your feet and you would have a terrible fall, going down
many feet right into the sea."

They had reached the brink. Grace, clinging tightly to her father's
hand, took one timid peep, then drew back in terror. "Oh, papa, how far
down it is!" she exclaimed. "Oh, let's get away, for fear the ground
will break and let us fall."

"Pooh! Gracie, don't be such a coward," said Lulu. "I shouldn't be
afraid even if papa hadn't hold of our hands."

"I should be afraid for you, Lulu, so venturesome as you are," said the
captain, drawing her a little farther back. "Max, my son, be careful."

"Yes, sir, I will. Papa, do you know how high this bluff is?"

"They say the bank is eighty-five feet high where the lighthouse stands,
and I presume it is about the same here. Now, children, we will walk
on."

Grace's strength held out wonderfully; she insisted she was not at all
tired, even when the end of their walk was reached.

The other division of the party had arrived some minutes before, and
several were already making the ascent to the top of the lighthouse
tower; the rest were scattered, waiting their turn in the neat parlor of
the keeper's snug little home, or wandering over the grassy expanse
between it and the sea.